Free And Modern Jazz From Japan

Having sponsored Ornette Coleman at the School of Jazz near Lennox, MA, pianist and composer John Lewis helped launch the controversial career of one of the last great innovators in jazz. Lewis' support of the ragtag Texas native was somewhat unique in jazz circles at the time and even surprising, especially considering the gulf between the classical jazz formality of his group the Modern Jazz Quartet and Coleman's radical notions of free improvisation. Nevertheless, Lewis not only saw in Coleman the first jazz genius since bebop's Parker, Gillespie, and Monk, but put pay to the praise with the MJQ's 1962 rendition of one of Coleman's most famous numbers, "Lonely Woman." (Along with Art Pepper's 1960 version of "Tears Inside," this was one of the earliest of Coleman covers don.)…

Having sponsored Ornette Coleman at the School of Jazz near Lennox, MA, pianist and composer John Lewis helped launch the controversial career of one of the last great innovators in jazz. Lewis' support of the ragtag Texas native was somewhat unique in jazz circles at the time and even surprising, especially considering the gulf between the classical jazz formality of his group the Modern Jazz Quartet and Coleman's radical notions of free improvisation. Nevertheless, Lewis not only saw in Coleman the first jazz genius since bebop's Parker, Gillespie, and Monk, but put pay to the praise with the MJQ's 1962 rendition of one of Coleman's most famous numbers, "Lonely Woman." (Along with Art Pepper's 1960 version of "Tears Inside," this was one of the earliest of Coleman covers don.)…

Mike Nock - In Out And Around (1978) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6342}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 278 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 110 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 153 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6342
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Postbebop / Neo Bop / Piano Trio / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Moody brilliance from pianist Mike Nock – a solid quartet date that features plenty of edgey tenor from Michael Brecker, who's in really great form throughout! The rhythm section has a nicely snakey vibe too – with George Mraz on bass and Al Foster on drums – and both players can come on strong when Mike needs them to, then lay back into some warmer, lyrical modes that really show Nock's melodic development at this point in his career. The highlight of this recording is Brecker's soulful tenor sax solos, some of his finest playing ever. The piano is acoustic throughout – and titles include "Break Time", "Dark Light", "Shadows Of Forgotten Love", "Hadrian's Wall", and "The Gift".

Masabumi Kikuchi Trio - Feel You (1993) {2015 Japan King Super Jazz Collection KICJ 2488}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 307 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 137 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 234 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1993, 2015 King Record Japan | KICJ 2488
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Jazz / Piano Jazz Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering. Pianist Masabumi Kikuchi leads the set, but the group's a very equally-balanced trio that features wonderful work from James Genus on bass and Victor Jones on drums – both players who shape the sound every bit as strongly as the piano! In fact, if you were to hear the record without the cover, you might even think Genus is the leader at times – given the way his rich, deep lines begin some of the cuts – and give a grounding to the record that allows Kikuchi to create these little constellations in sound with his deft lines on the piano – archly modern, yet deeply soulful at the same time – and almost "sparked" into greater flames by Jones' drums. A really special sort of trio date – one that's way more than just the sum of its parts – on titles that include "Free Stroll", "Zig Zag", "Pain Killer", "Up Beat Blues", "20th Street Shuffle", and "Little Treat".

Frank Rosolino - Turn Me Loose! (1961) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27233}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 221 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 75 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 163 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1961, 2013 Reprise / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27233 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Trombone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Those only familiar with Frank Rosolino’s trombone work may be surprised to find out that he also dabbled in vocals as well. Rosolino was highly regarded as a trombonist, especially on the West Coast scene, but seldom recorded as a leader; Free For All on the Specialty label is probably his best known work. Turn Me Loose features Rosolino doing double duty as soloist and vocalist, a la Chet Baker, and one could judge solely by the cover that this is an entertaining record by a man who is marching to the beat of a different drummer.